Packaging or wrapping devices



April 28, 1959 M. FRANKEL PACKAGING 0R WRAPPING DEVICES Filed May 9,1956 INVENTOR HORR\S FRANKEIL ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,884,183PACKAGING 0R WRAPPING DEVICES Morris Frankel, Teaneck, NJ.

Application May 9, 1956, Serial No. 583,676

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-68) This invention relates to what I term packaging orwrapping devices formed from plastic material, preferably in tubularform. More particularly, the invention deals with devices of thecharacter defined, wherein end portions of a tube of predetermineddiameter and length are heat sealed and, further, wherein at least onesurface of the tube, when arranged in flattened condition, is cut toform one or more pockets therein.

Further, the invention deals with devices of the character described,wherein the tube, in its flattened state, may include side gussets toprovide greater capacity within the body portion of the tubeintermediate sealed ends thereof.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a flattened tube of plastic material,illustrating the arrangement of two cuts on one surface thereof informing at least a pair of pockets in the resulting device.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, exaggerating thethickness of the material for sake of clarity.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing one end portion only of thedevice and showing a modification; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing only one end portion of thedevice and illustrating gusset sides in the tubular body of the device.

In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a tubular body ofplastic material of types and kinds which can be either glued or heatsealed and, to indicate one of the many types of plastics that could beused, polyethylene would be an example.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the device comprises an elongated flattubular body of predetermined length and width, the width defining thediameter of the tube from which the body is formed and, in its flatstate, the body 10 has an uncut wall 11 which may be considered an outerwall and an inner wall 12, the two walls being adhesively united by heatsealing at the ends thereof, as indicated at 13, thus providing, betweenthe two walls, a large chamber 14. The inner wall 12 may have one or anumber of cuts 15, two of which are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and thesecuts are preferably of irregular form, so as to provide, substantiallycentrally thereof, tongues 16, facilitating the placement of articles ofany type or kind in the end compartments 17 of the overall chamber 14.

A device, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing and, in fact, inthe modified showings of Figs. 3 and 4, later described, can be utilizedfor the covering or wrapping of any type of an article or product whichmay be disposed in one or more chambers or compartments of the resultingdevice and, as uses of devices of the kind under consideration are veryextensive, no attempt will ice be made to designate such uses. However,to indicate one practical use of the device, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2of the drawing, the device may comprise a bookcover for protection of abook and, in such uses, the outer wall 11 will form the protectivecovering for the book with the covers inserted into the compartments 17beneath the end Wall portions 12' of the wall 12. It will, thus, beapparent that these wall portions 12 will form, upon the inner surfacesof the bookcovers, pockets, in which papers, cards or the like can bemounted and the tongue 16 will facilitate insertion of papers or cardsinto the pockets or compartments 17.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I have shown, at 18, one end portion of amodified device which difiers from the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2primarily in providing, beyond the adhesive or heat seal 13', similar to13 in Figs. l and 2, tubular extensions 19, having open ends 20, intowhich the covers of a book can be inserted, so that, in use, theextension 19 will assume the position indicated in dotted lines upon theinner surface 21 of the tubular device. In this construction, a modifiedform of cutout 22 is shown to provide an apertured or recessed centralportion 23 to gain access to the resulting pocket or pockets, as will beapparent. Otherwise, the structure of Fig. 3 will be the same as thatshown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

It might be pointed out, at this time, that, in various types and kindsof packaging, the provision of the extended open tube 19 on one or bothends of the device can be advantageous to gain access to articles whichmay be arranged in this extension or extensions.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, I have shown another modification of thestructure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the device 24 differs fromthe device 10 simply in having gusseted side edge portions 25, whichallow the device to be expanded into a greater diameter beyond the endadhesions or head seals, one of which is indicated at 26. Here again,the inner surface 27 of the device is cut, as seen at 28, to form anopening to gain access to the interior of the resulting device. Withdevices of the type and kind indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, theopening provided can be solely at one end portion of the device, so thatit has a single pocket or chamber 29, access to which is attainedthrough the cut opening 28. This type and kind of device lends itself tonumerous uses for the wrapping and packaging of articles or products ofmany types and kinds. In most instances, the device will be constructedfrom transparent or translucent materials; whereas, in other instances,opaque materials can be used, particularly where the latter would bedesirable for protection of the items packed or stored in the device.

With devices of the type and kind under consideration, a very simple andeconomical covering, packaging or containing device can be produced. Infact, it is so economical that, after any of its uses, it can bedisposed of. In many uses, the device will be printed or lithographedfor enhancing the appearance thereof and/ or to associate with theresulting packaging any information which would be advantageous to theultimate user or purchaser. In some instances, it may include imprint ofprices of the products or merchandise contained within the device. Itmight also be pointed out, at this time, that, by reason of theflexibility of the material, in some instances, the contents within thepocket or compartment of the device can be rolled with the device andone of the pockets or chambered end portions used as a seal toultimately envelope the rolled or folded body portion. To illustrate thelatter, the device could be used, for example, as a tobacco pouchcontaining a predetermined quantity of tobacco 3 which, afterconsumption, the pouch can be disposed of.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

A packaging device comprising a flexible plastic tube arranged in a'flatstate to dispose Walls of the tube in adjacent relationship, the Wallsof said tube having sealed end portions forming a narrow elongatedcompartment within the device, the Walls of the tube beingcircumferentially integral and of common thickness, said tube having onone Wall only thereof a transverse opening to gain access to saidcompartment for support or positioning of an article Within thecompartment, and the device including, beyond the seals, protruding opentubular portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSReynolds Jan. 22, 1878 Shaw et a1. July 7, 1936 Schwartzman Feb. 18,1941 Knuetter Dec. 2, 1941 Piazze Nov. 7, 1950 Kindseth Nov. 1, 1955FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 24, 1917 Great Britain Nov. 1, 1923Great Britain Sept. 11, 1940

